archive of blossoms
transforming historic floral motifs into delicate three-dimensional paper sculptures — a celebration of 130 years of Swarovski in timeless elegance
year 2024
category staging & spatial Installations
commissioned by
in collaboration with
To mark the 130-year anniversary of Swarovski, archive of blossoms presents a spatial homage that brings historic floral motifs into the present.
Drawing from the extensive collections of the MAK – Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna, the installation reinterprets ornamental flower designs found across centuries and styles — from printed textiles and graphic illustrations to carved wood and decorative intarsia.
Each selected motif has been digitally reimagined and translated into a three-dimensional form: hand-folded paper blossoms, accompanied by leaves and stems, and subtly accented with Swarovski crystals. These oversized flowers are not bound to one moment, but instead echo the shifting aesthetics of different eras, each petal a gesture to a time and a craft.
The installation unfolds across several locations, with the main window display realised in Vienna at Swarovski’s Kristallwelten Store in the Kärntnerstrasse. Additional presentations included outdoor vitrines and an indoor showcase in Innsbruck, as well as a display in the Swarovski Kristallwelten Store in Wattens. In some versions, blossoms appear to hang upside down from the ceiling, while in others they sprout from stacks of books — subtle references to the MAK archive and its layered historical depth. Across all sites, the paper flowers connect past and present through form and gesture, offering a quiet tribute to design heritage and transformation.
main image above: Klaus Vyhnalek
detail of the flower arrangement in the Swarovski store, Vienna
image credits: Klaus Vyhnalek
flower reinterpretation of an Asian vase motive from the 19th century (MAK archive)
image credits: Klaus Vyhnalek
beautiful shadow play of the blossoms makes it appear mystical
image credits: Thomas Steinlechner
small display with pear and Swarovski necklace
image credits: Thomas Steinlechner
open archive book that shows a pattern by Dagobert Peche
from natural flowers to artistic interpretation — and now, from archival motifs back into sculptural shapes
outdoor cabinet in Innsbruck
image credits: Thomas Steinlechner
detail of the archive number that is on each flower to show its origin
image credits: Klaus Vyhnalek
Behind the scenes: watch the whole process
a blossom for every era — where historical patterns bloom into contemporary, colourful interventions with crystalline accents
origin: 18th century, lace
inventory number MAK: T 4846
origin: 1893, ceramic plate
inventory number MAK: OR 960
origin: 1893, wallpaper pattern
inventory number MAK: T 13527-39
origin: 1974, decoration on wooden secretary
inventory number MAK: H 2257
origin: 1925, fabric sample
inventory number MAK: T 11502-22
origin: 19th century, Katagami colouring stencil
inventory number MAK: OR 3925-2184
display at Swarovski Kristallwelten, Wattens
image credits: Thomas Steinlechner
flowers grow out of archive books
image credits: Thomas Steinlechner
blue flower, hand folded paper with Swarovski crystals
fabric pattern by Lotte Frömel-Fochler, Wiener Werkstätte, MAK inventory number: T 10879-2
adapting carefully the Swarovski crystals
curating and selecting flower motives from the MAK archive
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material
UV printed, lasercut and hand folded paper, Swarovski crystals, aluminium rods, magnets, plastic tags, book dummies
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dimensions
Vienna: 550 x 380 x 280cm
Wattens:
170 x 170 x 250 cm (Avantgarde)
200 x 170 x 250 cm (Playful)
230 x 180 x 250 cm (Unique)Innsbruck:
130 x 130 x 220 cm (cabinets outdoor 2x)
42 x 45 x 77 cm (cabinets indoor, small 4x)
42 x 125 x 110 cm (cabinet indoor, big 1x)MAK: approx. 120 x 140 x 210 cm
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material support
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stage production
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special thanks to
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location
Vienna, Innsbruck, Wattens (Austria)
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collection
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team
Katharina Mischer, Thomas Traxler, Sophia Stoewer, Nic Frehner, Catherina Kerst, Leonie Mischer
concept sketch of the blossom books stack